Title says it all. For your favorite author or series where would I start reading? And separately, if I know that I can only read one book, ever, which should it be?
They're very different questions. That introduction book probably isn't their best, and it might not offer a clear idea of what comes later on because it's busy avoiding spoilers and big reveals. Instead it's about getting into the series.
But maybe I know that I'm not going to get into the author or the series. I might know - or think I know - that I'll only ever read the one book, and I just want a clear idea of what the series or the author is all about. And in that case I wouldn't mind missing some backstory but not too much.
For example, for Harry Potter you'd have to start with book 1, Sorcerer's Stone, but if you'll only ever read one book, you might do better picking book 4, Goblet of Fire. The first brings you into the magical world while the fourth gives you a better idea of what the series is really capable of.
Which would it be for some other other authors?
They're very different questions. That introduction book probably isn't their best, and it might not offer a clear idea of what comes later on because it's busy avoiding spoilers and big reveals. Instead it's about getting into the series.
But maybe I know that I'm not going to get into the author or the series. I might know - or think I know - that I'll only ever read the one book, and I just want a clear idea of what the series or the author is all about. And in that case I wouldn't mind missing some backstory but not too much.
For example, for Harry Potter you'd have to start with book 1, Sorcerer's Stone, but if you'll only ever read one book, you might do better picking book 4, Goblet of Fire. The first brings you into the magical world while the fourth gives you a better idea of what the series is really capable of.
Which would it be for some other other authors?